High-class Spring Joy

After Mango finished speaking, no one in the room spoke; the only sound was the breathing of the person in front of them.

But it was precisely this atmosphere, where no one spoke and only breathing could be heard, that made people even more apprehensive, especially since the person standing in front of them was the master of masters, the master who held the highest position in the entire Bianjing City.

He can be said to be the master of the entire Bianjing city, the master of everyone.

Such a person, with such an imposing presence, yet still utters a single wrong word, or even just one wrong character, that could profoundly alter the meaning of his statement. In such a case, a single word or phrase could cost him his life. Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; one's life is merely a matter of a single gesture from the king before him.

Faced with such a person, Mango was naturally nervous and fearful, but even more so, she felt awe. At this moment, after Mango finished speaking, she was naturally focused on the emperor's joy or anger. However, his aura was so powerful that Mango dared not look up or even peek.

Mango could only wait anxiously as she knelt on the ground, her head bowed, staring intently at the black floor tiles in front of her. Her eyes were glued to the floor, and she dared not move. She dared not let out any loud breathing, and could only try to hold her breath, fearing that a single careless move would render all her efforts futile. Only her heart pounded in her chest.

Only the heart dares to beat; otherwise, any other sound is too loud to disturb the emperor before him.

Mango just said those words with a stiff upper lip. If it were any other master, he would probably be pleased with those words. If he were a smarter master, he would just say those words to please his master. Of course, it wouldn't be considered opportunistic.

But Mango wasn't confident in the person in front of her. This person was capable of storming into Bianjing, seizing the emperor to command the other lords, and finally ascending the throne. What kind of ruthless emperor had he who had crushed the surrounding small countries? How could he not see through her little tricks?

Just as Mango was feeling uneasy, the emperor in front of him indeed moved. The Chinese emperor sneered, "You've got some nerve, daring to deceive me?"

These few words, less than ten characters long, weighed down on Mango's back like a mountain, making her float even lower, closer to the ground. She dared not rise, and hurriedly apologized, "It's my fault, it's my fault, please forgive me, Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please forgive me!!"

Just then, Mango thought he was surely going to die, but to his surprise, the Chinese emperor standing in front of him not only didn't ask a second question, nor did he utter any more fierce words, but instead burst into a hearty and joyful laugh:

"Hahahaha... You're quite bold, actually daring to come up with such childish tricks to amuse me. I've rarely seen such a bold girl besides Jing'an, and I happen to admire girls like you. Daring to fool me like a three-year-old, you're truly the first in the world. You're indeed a unique girl, and I find you quite interesting. No wonder such a weak woman was able to rescue the young prince of the Northern Frontier Kingdom from such a dangerous icy wasteland. I really underestimated you."

After he finished speaking, the Chinese emperor's laughter ceased, but his voice still carried a faint smile: "Alright, get up. Why would I make a little girl like you kneel? I'm not a tyrant, so there's no need to be so afraid. You are now a meritorious official, and your achievements are far more than just great. If it weren't for your actions during this peace talks, not only would the talks have failed, but the impact on the situation between the two countries would have been completely different. Even just considering the immediate situation, if you hadn't brought back that little prince from the Northern Frontier Kingdom, I'm afraid my crown prince wouldn't even be able to save his life right now."

At this point, the Chinese emperor also sighed, picked up the tea beside him, gently skimmed off the foam on the surface of the tea with the lid, took a sip of tea, and sighed again.

This iron-fisted emperor, who had fought on horseback for years, even overthrowing his own nephew to ascend the throne, was such a man, such an upright and ruthless emperor. Yet, when it came to family matters, or to his closest relatives, he could only sigh twice in response.

How could Chinese emperors not feel helpless? As emperors, they were not helpless. Their duties and responsibilities were to govern the country and protect the people. As the saying goes, "The emperor guards the country's gates, and the monarch dies for the state."

He would rather die at the tribute table where he handled court affairs.

He was the emperor of China, and his duty and responsibility were to protect this territory and its people, ensuring their peaceful and prosperous lives.

This is his greatest responsibility and his greatest obligation. Since he has become the supreme ruler and enjoys so many rights shared by the people and the country, the palace can be described as extremely luxurious, magnificent, and grand. Any one of the things he uses on a daily basis could be equivalent to the food, clothing, and daily necessities of an ordinary person for several years, or even more than ten or several decades.

But since he has enjoyed such rights, he must dedicate himself to the country and all its people until his dying breath.

Not only him, but all emperors should take it upon themselves to protect the country and safeguard the people.

But setting aside his identity as emperor, the emperor of China, his greatest identity was that of a father. He was a father who could not bear to see his son die at the hands of others and wanted to rush to save him, but was unable to fulfill his duties as a father because he was the emperor of China.

The biting autumn wind felt like it was carrying knives, stinging Qinghe's face.

It wasn't until a few large, icy raindrops hit her, her knees ached from the hard, cold floor tiles, and her legs felt like they were about to break, that Qinghe finally realized she had been reborn on the day her stepmother sent her to the palace to help the fake heiress Shen Shuang'er secure the emperor's favor.

Upon seeing the tall, golden-studded, vermilion gate before me, I saw three large characters on the plaque: Yikun Palace.

Qinghe then remembered that she must have been scolded by the nanny beside Consort Shu, who punished her by making her kneel in the rain and wait for the people from Qianqing Palace to come and take her to serve the emperor. This was to remind her of her and her adoptive mother's identities and not to have any improper thoughts.

In her previous life, she believed her mother and father's words. In order to keep her grandmother safe in the mansion, she had to give up her fiancé, her doting cousin, her childhood sweetheart neighbor, and everything she owned—anything the fake heiress wanted—without complaint.

After entering the palace, she was forced to hand over all the emperor's favor to Shen Shuang'er, obey her every word, and do her best to help her ascend to the position of empress.

In the end, he was killed by Shen Shuang'er and his younger brother, whom he had raised with all his might, and ended up being torn apart by five horses, his head separated from his body!

Even her grandmother, who raised her, was killed by the jealous and ruthless Shen Shuang'er long ago, leaving not even a skeleton behind!

"Oh...who's that? Why is he kneeling at the entrance of Yikun Palace? He looks unfamiliar! I'm here to pick someone up anyway, why don't we go over and take a look?"

"...So noisy."

A shrill, hoarse voice rang out, forcefully pulling her thoughts back.

Then a deep, clear voice came, like the sound of metal striking jade, constantly assaulting Qinghe's eardrums. The moment she recognized the person, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, her whole body stiffening on the spot.

Ningwu…

The Emperor is currently in power!

Ning Wu came from the Eastern Depot and was initially just a lowly eunuch. He repeatedly risked his life to save Emperor Jing, and then joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard, where he made many outstanding contributions. At the young age of seventeen, he took command of both the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and later became the sharpest and darkest knife in Emperor Jing's hands, used specifically to eliminate dissidents.

After ascending to the throne, all the officials in the court who opposed him died at his hands. The only daughter of the Minister mentioned in casual conversation that he was a eunuch, and when this reached his ears, he had her tied to a horse's tail, rode the horse all over the capital, and dragged the Minister's daughter to her death. He then wrapped her in a straw mat and threw her into a mass grave.

He is vindictive, bloodthirsty, and suspicious. His current position is built on mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Every citizen of Anguo curses him as a treacherous eunuch in their hearts. Yet Ningwu is deeply trusted and valued by Emperor Jing. Even the Crown Prince must respectfully bow and address him as "Your Highness, the Nine Thousand Years Old".

And he was the biggest backer of his elder sister, Consort Shu, in his previous life!

In her past life, her elder sister and younger brother conspired to tear her apart with five horses, yet they escaped detection, all thanks to Ning Wu's protection.

It is said that hearing is the last thing a person loses after death.

After Qinghe's tragic death in her previous life, she first heard footsteps, followed by Ningwu's conversation with his subordinates—

"My lord, it was the Empress who took action. I heard that he had some improper thoughts and poisoned the Empress's food, but he was caught red-handed."

"That's certainly something worth dismembering and cleaning up, so as not to cause trouble for Shuang'er."

With a single, casual remark, her death was never known again.

Her body was then thrown into a mass grave by her elder sister's orders, and it is unknown where it was eventually carried away by wolves.

Recalling her past life seemed to drain all of Qinghe's strength. She nearly fell onto the cold marble floor, gasping for breath in fear. The despair and terror that overwhelmed her before her death finally transformed into countless deep-seated hatred.

In this life, she will never again be a stepping stone to the throne of Empress! She will make those who harmed her and her mother pay tenfold or a hundredfold price!

But... she clearly remembered that in her previous life, only a lowly eunuch came to pick her up. Why did it suddenly become the Ninth Prince?

The rain stopped sometime earlier, and before she could think any further, the person was already behind her.

"Who are you?! Why have I never seen you before?" the hoarse voice rang out again.

"My humble name is Yuhe, and I was sent to the palace today by General Shen's mansion." Qinghe turned around and knelt down to reply, not daring to raise her head, her face already deathly pale.

Perhaps surprised that the frail person in front of him was the one he was looking for, Eunuch Gao's tone softened: "Since you are from the General's Mansion, then come with us. Don't keep the Emperor waiting too long."

Qinghe responded with a "Yes," stood up, and followed Eunuch Gao forward with her head bowed, not daring to raise her head at all. But when they reached the palanquin—

"look up."

That deep voice rang out again, like the chilling autumn wind wrapped in ice blades, striking Qinghe's heart and causing her to instinctively hold her breath.

She didn't even need to look to sense that sinister, cold gaze fixed on her. A chill ran down her spine, and the fear that welled up from the bottom of her heart made her momentarily stunned.

At that very moment, she felt a warm touch on her chin. He forcefully lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him.

He was dressed in a scarlet robe embroidered with gold flying fish, his tall and slender figure leaning against the palanquin throne. His movements were languid and casual, but the palanquin-like ferocity emanating from him made people tremble with fear.

For a mere eunuch to dare to travel in a carriage within the palace demonstrates Ning Wu's high status.

"Are you afraid of me?"

He looked down at her, his cold, sinister peach blossom eyes scrutinizing her silently, as if trying to see through her appearance and understand her thoughts.

No one wants others to fear them for no reason. Qinghe swallowed nervously, "This servant's feelings for you are not fear, but awe."

He seemed to have heard something interesting, raised an eyebrow with interest, moved closer to her, and lightly stroked her chin with his fingertips: "You have guts, daring to lie to me."

Qinghe felt a chill run through her body. How could she dare admit to lying? She hurriedly explained, "This servant dares not deceive you. It is indeed my first time meeting Your Highness. I am filled with awe and would never dare to be presumptuous."

"Oh."

He snorted coldly, as if teasing a kitten or puppy, not caring whether her words were true or false. Instead, he slowly caressed her lips with his fingertips. "This face is quite pretty."

He had no sense of propriety whatsoever between a eunuch and an empress; he was only inherently arrogant and condescending.

His large hands roamed over her cheeks and neck, looking intimate, but Qinghe was terrified and got goosebumps.

When he casually brushed against the redness and swelling on the back of her neck, Qinghe felt a distinct pain from his warm fingertips and shuddered.

"Were you bullied at Yikun Palace?"

She dared not say that it was Consort Shu who pinched her, and could only hurriedly shake her head: "No...no."

"Why are you trembling without her?" he sneered, then his gaze lingered on her face. "What a pity, such a beautiful face is no longer in Yikun Palace."

As she spoke, her chin was raised even higher, forcing Qinghe to meet his eyes, and a chill instantly spread through her.

His gaze was like that of a giant python lurking in the night, eyeing its favorite prey. Even the sandalwood scent that filled her nostrils felt like a glistening, red snake tongue constantly darting over her body.

Even though there wasn't much physical contact, she felt as if he had imprisoned her.

His eyes were exactly the same as when we first met in my previous life.

It's the way a man looks at a woman—dark and extremely aggressive.

In her previous life, she didn't know how to take advantage of things. She only felt that being noticed by the eunuch was not a good thing, so she tried her best to avoid trouble.

But in this life, she is determined to steal her elder sister's support and compete with her properly!

Qinghe swallowed hard. "Does Your Majesty like this face of mine?"

Her words were cryptic, but the person in front of her understood them instantly.

The next moment, her neck was completely in his large hand, and with just a little force, he could easily break her slender, fair neck.